Pen-specific user interface controls

ABSTRACT

Methods for pen-specific user interface controls are performed by systems and devices. Users activate pen-specific menus at user devices by activating controls of a touch pen such as a tail button. A communication is received by a device, from a touch pen, that indicates an activation control of the touch pen has been physically activated. The user device selects a touch pen menu that includes selectable menu options for respective launching of separate pen applications from among available menus based at least on the received communication. The device determines menu presentation information specifying a location within a user interface (UI) from a state of the UI at a time associated with the communication. The touch pen menu is displayed via the UI according to the menu presentation information. A detection for selection of a selectable menu option causes the device to launch a pen application associated therewith.

BACKGROUND

User interfaces such as touch interfaces allow users to interact withdisplayed content via touches of fingers, a stylus, a pen, etc. Forexample, a user may tap a touch interface on a display to select a menuoption, launch an application, or interact with an application.Likewise, buttons on a stylus or pen can provide commands to userdevices having user interfaces to display general menus and forinteractions within executing stylus- or pen-specific applications.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Methods for pen-specific user interface controls are performed bysystems, devices, and apparatuses. Users activate pen-specific menus atuser devices by activating controls of a touch pen such as a tailbutton. A communication is received by a device, from a touch pen, thatindicates an activation control of the touch pen has been activated. Theuser device selects a touch pen menu that includes selectable menuoptions for respective launching of separate pen applications from amongavailable menus based at least on the received communication. The devicedetermines menu presentation information specifying a location within auser interface (UI) from a state of the UI at a time associated with thecommunication. The touch pen menu is displayed via the UI according tothe menu presentation information. A detection for selection of aselectable menu option causes the device to launch a pen applicationassociated therewith.

Further features and advantages, as well as the structure and operationof various examples, are described in detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawings. It is noted that the ideas and techniques are notlimited to the specific examples described herein. Such examples arepresented herein for illustrative purposes only. Additional exampleswill be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based atleast on the teachings contained herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present applicationand, together with the description, further serve to explain theprinciples of the embodiments and to enable a person skilled in thepertinent art to make and use the embodiments.

FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of a system for pen-specific userinterface controls, according to an example embodiment.

FIGS. 1B and 1C each show diagrams of a touch pen for pen-specific userinterface controls, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 1D shows a block diagram of a touch device from the system in FIG.1A for pen-specific user interface controls, according to an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a system for pen-specific user interfacecontrols, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for pen-specific user interface controls, inaccordance with an example embodiment.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E show diagrams of user interfaces with penmenus for pen-specific user interface controls, in accordance withexample embodiments.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D show diagrams of user interfaces with pen menusfor pen-specific user interface controls, in accordance with exampleembodiments.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C show diagrams of user interfaces with pen menus forpen-specific user interface controls, in accordance with exampleembodiments.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an example mobile device that may beused to implement various example embodiments.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of an example computing device that may beused to implement embodiments.

The features and advantages of embodiments will become more apparentfrom the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunctionwith the drawings, in which like reference characters identifycorresponding elements throughout. In the drawings, like referencenumbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/orstructurally similar elements. The drawing in which an element firstappears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the correspondingreference number.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Introduction

The following detailed description discloses numerous embodiments. Thescope of the present patent application is not limited to the disclosedembodiments, but also encompasses combinations of the disclosedembodiments, as well as modifications to the disclosed embodiments.

References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,”“an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment describedmay include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, butevery embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature,structure, or characteristic is described in connection with anembodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of oneskilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristicin connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitlydescribed.

In the discussion, unless otherwise stated, adjectives such as“substantially,” “approximately,” and “about” modifying a condition orrelationship characteristic of a feature or features of an embodiment ofthe disclosure, are understood to mean that the condition orcharacteristic is defined to be within tolerances that are acceptablefor operation of the embodiment for an application for which it isintended.

If the performance of an operation is described herein as being “basedon” one or more factors, it is to be understood that the performance ofthe operation may be based solely on such factor(s) or may be based onsuch factor(s) along with one or more additional factors. Thus, as usedherein, the term “based on” should be understood to be equivalent to theterm “based at least on.”

Furthermore, it should be understood that spatial descriptions (e.g.,“above,” “below,” “up,” “left,” “right,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,”“vertical,” “horizontal,” etc.) used herein are for purposes ofillustration only, and that practical implementations of the structuresand drawings described herein can be spatially arranged in anyorientation or manner. Additionally, the drawings may not be provided toscale, and orientations or organization of elements of the drawings mayvary in embodiments.

Numerous exemplary embodiments are described as follows. It is notedthat any section/subsection headings provided herein are not intended tobe limiting. Embodiments are described throughout this document, and anytype of embodiment may be included under any section/subsection.Furthermore, embodiments disclosed in any section/subsection may becombined with any other embodiments described in the samesection/subsection and/or a different section/subsection in any manner.

Section II below describes example embodiments for pen-specific userinterface controls. Section III below describes example mobile deviceand computing device embodiments that may be used to implement featuresof the embodiments described herein. Section IV below describesadditional examples and advantages, and Section V provides someconcluding remarks.

II. Example Embodiments for Pen-Specific User Interface Controls

Methods, systems, apparatuses, devices, and computer program productsare provided herein for pen-specific user interface controls. Users mayapply a touch instrument such as a finger, stylus, or touch pen to atouch interface of a device such as a touch screen to select and/orotherwise interact with content displayed via a user interface (UI).Embodiments herein enable and provide specific UI controls and menusbased at least on detections of certain commands from the touchinstrument, such as a touch pen. A touch pen as referred to herein is anelectronic touch instrument, configured to interact with a device, andmay include one or activation controls that cause the pen to sendcommands and information to the device indicative of activation for anactivation control. A specific activation control of the pen isassociated with pen-specific UI controls which enables the user tosimply and efficiently cause pen-specific UI controls and menus to bepresented by the device.

For example, a user may activate pen-specific UI controls and/or menusat a device by activating an activation control of a pen that has beenparticularly associated with the touch pen menu, such as clicking a tailbutton. A communication is received by a device, from a touch pen, thatindicates an activation control of the touch pen has been activated,e.g., a click of the tail button. The device selects a touch pen menu,from a number of menus available to the device, which includesselectable menu options for launching different pen-specificapplications based at least on the received communication indicating theparticular activation control is activated at the touch pen. The devicethen determines menu presentation information that may specify adisplay, a location, an orientation, and/or the like, for a UI based atleast on a state of the UI at a time that is associated with theactivation and communication. The touch pen menu is displayed via the UIaccording to the menu presentation information. A user is thus enabledto select a menu option from the touch pen menu that causes the deviceto launch a pen application associated with the selected touch pen menuoption. It should also be noted that embodiments herein provide forenabling a touch device to present in a menu selections associated withapplications that are not touch pen-specific on a display for selectionthereof by a user.

As noted above, menu presentation information may specify a display, alocation, an orientation, and/or the like, for a UI based at least on astate of the UI. A device, generally, may be referred to herein as atouch device or a user device. Devices may include one or more physicaldisplays by which Uls and menus are displayed/presented to users and bywhich a touch pen is enabled to interact with the device. For instance,the device may include two physical displays as part of a system UI forpresentation of home screens, menus, application-specific Uls, etc. Thestate of the UI, i.e., the system UI, includes but is not limited to, ahandedness setting, an orientation of the device, what is currentlybeing displayed by one or more physical displays, and/or the like, asdescribed herein. The menu presentation information is based at least onthis UI state and determines where and how pen-specific menus arepresented on the device. Accordingly, the UI is improved at leastthrough the provision of pen-specific menus responsive to specific touchpen activators, and is further improved though the specific placement ofthe pen-specific menus in consideration of the UI state. Thus, the touchdevice and its operation are also improved via such operation of the UIat least by requiring less user navigation in order to presentpen-specific menu options, as well as presentation of the pen-specificmenus in locations that are more easily accessible by the user(including a reduction of input errors) and/or do not disrupt thepresentation of other items displayed. These improvements are applicableto single- and multiple-display touch devices, as described herein,where for multiple-display touch devices, the improvements fromcorresponding locations for touch pen menus on a given one of thedisplays are increasingly pronounced due to the increased size of the UIand its ability to present additional content over two displays.

As an example, handedness refers to a default or user-specified settingassociated with the dominant hand, or the hand that will typically wielda touch pen for interaction with the device, of the user. Embodimentsprovide for a device to determine a handedness setting from the UIstate, and display pen-specific menus on a display that corresponds tothe handedness setting (e.g., if the user has opted to configuresettings for right-handedness, the device may present or display apen-specific menu on the right display of the device). Additionally, thepen-specific menu may be displayed vertically, horizontally, atdifferent sides of a display, etc., based at least on device orientationinformation in the UI state. In scenarios in which the UI state includesinformation of an executing application that is in focus or is otherwisedisplayed by the device, a pen-specific menu may be presented to theuser on a display that is not currently presenting the UI of theapplication. Accordingly, and in view of the improvements noted above,the UI is further improved at least through the provision ofpen-specific menus in consideration of the orientation of the device,which is maintained in the UI state. Thus, the orientation of the touchdevice does not inhibit the ease of user navigation for presentedpen-specific menu options or the performance of the touch device. Thepresentation of the pen-specific menus in specific locations and atorientations that remain easily accessible by the user and/or do notdisrupt the presentation of other items displayed regardless oforientation improve the touch device operation.

Moreover, pen-specific menus or portions thereof may be presented withother menus or applications by the device based at least ondeterminations that activation of the other menus or applications isperformed using the touch pen, and presentation of options inpen-specific menus may be based at least on user profiles, inembodiments. The described embodiments herein also provide forcustomization of pen-specific menus.

In other words, the embodiments disclosed herein provide enhanced UIoperations and options specific to touch pens via pen-specific userinterface controls. These and further embodiments are described ingreater detail as follows.

Systems and devices may be configured in various ways for pen-specificuser interface controls. For instance, FIG. 1A is a block diagram of asystem 100, according to embodiments. System 100A is configured toenable pen-specific user interface controls, according to embodiments.As shown in FIG. 1A, system 100A includes a touch pen 102, a touchdevice 104, and external systems/devices 112. In embodiments, touch pen102 and touch device 104 may communicate with each other viacommunication signals 114, and touch device 104 and externalsystems/devices 112 may communicate with each other over a network 110.It should be noted that various numbers of touch instruments, touchdevices, and/or external systems/devices may be present in variousembodiments. Additionally, any combination of the components illustratedin FIG. 1A may be present in system 100A, according to embodiments.

As noted above, touch device 104 and external systems/devices 112 arecommunicatively coupled via network 110. Network 110 may comprise anytype of communication links that connect computing devices and serverssuch as, but not limited to, the Internet, wired or wireless networksand portions thereof, point-to-point connections, local area networks,enterprise networks, and/or the like. External systems/devices 112 mayinclude servers and/or hosts of software developers and/or providers forsoftware stored and/or executed by touch device 104. For instance,applications, operating systems, Uls, menus, etc., may comprise portionsof software stored and/or executed by touch device 104. Touch device 104is configured to receive any ones of such software, and/or updatesthereto, from external systems/devices 112 over network 110. Inembodiments, such software and/or updates may include defaultpen-specific menu settings, program logic for pen-specific menus, etc.External systems/devices 112 may comprise cloud-hosted services,on-premises servers hosting services, and/or the like.

Touch device 104 may be any type of computing device or computing systemhaving an integrated touch interface or a peripheral touch interface,e.g., a touch screen or touch pad, that interfaces with, or comprises, adigitizer 106 associated therewith for interaction with touchinstruments, such as touch pen 102. Touch device 104 may be, withoutlimitation, a mobile productivity device, a terminal, a personalcomputer, a laptop computer, a tablet device, a smart phone, a personaldigital assistant, a game console or gaming device, a television, and/orthe like that may be utilized by users through interaction with a touchinstrument(s), such as touch pen 102, in performance of operations. Inembodiments, touch device 104 may be a model of a Surface Duo® fromMicrosoft Corporation of Redmond, WA, or a similar dual-screen mobiledevice. Touch pen 102 may be utilized via the touch interface anddigitizer 106, e.g., by contact/interaction provided at a touch screen.

Digitizer 106 may comprise a controller, one or more antennas, and/orthe like. Digitizer 106 may be configured to receive/transmitcommunication signals via an antenna(s) from/to touch pen 102, accordingto embodiments. A controller or processor of digitizer 106 may receivecommands and information as communications from touch pen 102. Inembodiments, these communications are utilized to determine if aspecific activation control of touch pen 102 have been activated, and/orwhere in a UI a user has selected an option of a menu or application.For example, touch devices described herein may be configured to executesoftware applications and/or menus that cause content to be displayed tousers via Uls associated with touch interfaces.

A menu manager 108 of touch device 104 is configured to determine ifpen-specific menus are to be displayed to the user, and if so, wheresuch pen-specific menus are to be displayed. Operations and functions ofmenu manager 108 are discussed in further detail below.

Touch pen 102 may be any type of touch instrument that includes one ormore activation controls. An activation control may be a button, aswitch, a slider, a lever, and/or the like, as would be understood by aperson of skill in the relevant art(s) having the benefit of thisdisclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, touch pen 102 includes at least atail activator 116, which may be a tail button that is activated by asuser click thereof, for embodiments herein related to pen-specific userinterface controls.

Turning now to FIGS. 1B and 1C, diagrams of touch pens for pen-specificuser interface controls are shown, according to example embodiments.FIG. 1B shows a system 100B that includes touch pen 102 of FIG. 1A, aswell as touch device 104 and digitizer 106. FIG. 1C shows a system 100Cthat includes further exemplary details and features of touch pen 102.

In system 100B, touch pen 102 is illustrated as interfacing withantennas of digitizer 106 and with a screen of touch device 104. Touchpen 102 may be held by a user at various distances, with variouscharacteristics, and/or with various orientations with respect to touchdevice 104 (and digitizer 106). For instance, in an embodiment, touchpen 102 is illustrated in system 100B as being used by a user and thatis interacting by contact with touch device 104 at a location relativeto digitizer 106 by which the nib of touch pen 102 makes contact, e.g.,to indicate a selection of a selectable control, to perform inking, toperform a drag operation, etc.

In another embodiment, touch pen 102 is illustrated in system 100B asbeing used by a user and that is interacting by communication signals114 with touch device 104, such as by pressing tail activator 116 oftouch pen 102 causing communication signals 114 to be provided byantennas of touch pen 102 to digitizer 106 of touch device 104. Forinstance, a user may activate tail activator 116 by pressing downwardthereupon with a force 120 (or pressure) causing a display of apen-specific user interface controls, as described herein. Alsoillustrated is a side activator 118, which may be a button or the likeas described herein, and which may be similarly activated. While twoactivators are shown in FIG. 1B by way of illustration, other numbers ofactivators may be included with touch pen 102 in other embodiments.

In embodiments, touch pen 102 may include an instance of a controller134. Controller 134 is configured to perform pen-side operations forpen-specific user interface controls, as described herein. For example,when a user interacts with a touch interface of touch device 104, e.g.,via digitizer 106, using touch pen 102 to perform selections ofcontrols, drags, inking operations, etc., controller 134 is configuredto receive communication signal information via one or more antennas oftouch pen 102 and/or a hardware-based force sensor, and to determinecharacterization information of touch instrument 102 for operationdecisions. In other embodiments, the antenna(s) of touch pen 102 areconfigured to provide communication signals 114 to touch device 104, asnoted above, based at least on controller 134 determining an activationof tail activator 116 via electrical signals provided thereto.

Controller 134 may be implemented in hardware, custom hardware, hardwarecombined with one or both of software and/or firmware, and/or as programcode or instructions encoded on computer-readable storage media, and maybe configured to perform any functions and/or operations describedherein for pen-specific user interface controls. In embodiments, suchfunctions and/or operations may be performed based at least on one ormore lookup tables stored in a memory (not shown, but as would beunderstood by those of skill in the relevant art(s) having the benefitof this disclosure) of touch pen 102.

System 100C of FIG. 1C shows touch pen 102, including controller 134, aswell as sensors and antennas of touch pen 102, according to an exampleembodiment. For instance, touch pen 102 may include one or more antennasshown in system 100C as an antenna 126 a (e.g., a tip antenna), anantenna 126 b (e.g., a tilt antenna), and an antenna 126 c (e.g., a tailantenna). Each antenna may be configured to transmit and/or receivecommunication signals such as communication signals 114 to and/or from atouch device, such as touch device 104, via one or more respectivetransceivers: a transceiver 128 a, a transceiver 128 b, and atransceiver 128 c. In embodiments, these transceivers may be a portionof controller 134, and antenna 126 a, antenna 126 b, and antenna 126 cmay be electrically coupled to controller 134 via these transceivers,respectively, as illustrated.

Touch instrument 102 may also include a hardware-based force sensor 122associated with the pen tip or nib. For example, force sensor 122 maycomprise a tip that includes antenna 126 a and a sensor portion 124.Sensor portion 124 is configured to sense a force applied to the tipthrough user interactions with touch instrument 102. Sensor portion 124may be electrically coupled, and configured to provide indicia of forcessensed thereby, to controller 134, according to embodiments.Accordingly, a touch instrument, such as touch pen 102, may beconfigured in various ways for improvements and enhancements in touchinstruments and UIs associated therewith in pen-specific user interfacecontrols.

Turning now to FIG. 1D, a block diagram of a system 100D that includestouch device 104 from system 100A in FIG. 1A for pen-specific userinterface controls is shown, according to an example embodiment. Asillustrated, touch device 104 includes digitizer 106 and menu manager108, which are described above and in further detail below. Touch device104 in FIG. 1D also includes a first physical display 130 (also “display130” hereinafter) and a second physical display 132 (also “display 132”hereinafter). Display 130 and/or display 132 may comprise touchinterfaces of touch device 104, and may be combined and/or coupled withdigitizer 106 in embodiments. Display 130 and display 132 enable atwo-display user experience in embodiments, and provision/presentationof pen-specific user interface controls and/or other UIs, as describedherein, may be based at least on the position/orientation of display 130and display 132, a handedness setting as corresponding to display 130and/or display 132, a UI state with respect to content displayed bydisplay 130 and/or display 132, etc. While two displays are shown by wayof example in FIG. 1D, other numbers of displays are contemplated hereinas being included/implemented in various or different embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a system 200 of a touch device that isconfigured for improvements and enhancements in Uls, e.g., forpen-specific user interface controls. System 200 is an embodiment oftouch device 104 in system 100A of FIG. 1A, in system 100B of FIG. 1B,and in system 100D of FIG. 1D. For example, system 200 may include adigitizer such as digitizer 106, as well as one or more displays such asdisplay 130 and/or display 132, as described above. System 200 isdescribed as follows.

System 200 includes a computing device 202, which may be an embodimentof touch device 104, and may be any type of computer or computingdevice, as mentioned elsewhere herein, or as otherwise known. As shownin FIG. 2 , system 200 and computing device 202 include one or more of aprocessor (“processor”) 204, one or more of a memory and/or otherphysical storage device (“memory”) 206, one or more network interfaces(“network interface”) 226, and a menu manager 208 that may be anembodiment of menu manager 108 of FIGS. 1A and 1D. System 200 may alsoinclude UIs and menus 218, an input/output (I/O) interface(s) 222,profile and state information 224, and one or more software applications228 (“apps” 228). System 200 may also include additional components (notshown for brevity and illustrative clarity) including, but not limitedto, components and subcomponents of other devices and/or systems herein,as well as those described below with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8 , such asan operating system.

Processor 204 and memory 206 may respectively be any type of processorcircuit and memory that is described herein, and/or as would beunderstood by a person of skill in the relevant art(s) having thebenefit of this disclosure. Processor 204 and memory 206 may eachrespectively comprise one or more processors or memories, differenttypes of processors or memories, remote processors or memories, and/ordistributed processors or memories. Processor 204 comprises hardwarecircuitry that is configured to execute computer program code orinstructions such as but not limited to embodiments of menu manager 208,which may be implemented as computer program code or instructions forpen-specific user interface controls, etc., as described herein. Memory206 is configured to store such computer program instructions/code, aswell as to store other information and data described in this disclosureincluding, without limitation, UIs and menus 218, profile and stateinformation 224, apps 228, etc.

Network interface 226 may be any type or number of wired and/or wirelessnetwork adapter, modem, etc., configured to enable system 200 tocommunicate with other devices over a network, such as communicationsbetween system 200 and other devices utilized in a network as describedherein (e.g., external systems/devices 112) over a network such asnetwork 110 as described above with respect to FIG. 1 .

I/O interface(s) 222 may comprise hardware and/or software and maysupport any number of input devices and instruments such as a stylus, atouch pen, a mouse, a touch screen, a touch pad, a microphone, a camera,a kinetic sensor, a physical keyboard, a trackball, virtual realityeyewear, gloves, other wearables or sensors, etc., and/or the like, andone or more output devices such as a speaker, a display screen, and/orthe like. Devices such as touch screens and touch pads may support humantouch (e.g., with a finger or other body part as the instrument). Inembodiments, an I/O interface herein may comprise both input and outputportions, e.g., a touchscreen, a headset, smart glasses, etc. AdditionalI/O devices supported by I/O interface(s) 222 are also contemplatedherein, including but not limited to those described below with respectto FIGS. 10 and 11 . Further, I/O interface(s) 222 may comprise adigitizer of system 200, such as digitizer 106 described above.

UIs and menus 218 may include, without limitation, any type of softwareor hardware UI implementation and/or any type of software/applicationmenu. UIs and menus 218 may include, for example, user interfaces andmenus displayed to users via output devices described herein that may beinteracted with via input devices described herein. Uls and menus 218may comprise portions of any types of software applications, such asapps 228, which can include, but are not limited to, an OS, pen-specificapplications, web browsers, productivity software, electronic mailapplications, audio applications, video applications, audio/videoapplications, 3-D software/virtual environments, drawing/inkingsoftware, etc. UIs and menus 218 may display content or representationsthereof, as described herein, such as any type of selectable object orcontrol for menus including, without limitation, selectable icons tolaunch applications such as apps 228, menu configuration/customizationoptions, handles of drawer menus, and/or the like. Uls and menus 218 mayinclude a touch pen menu 220 having pen-specific user interfacecontrols, e.g., selectable controls to launch pen-specific applications.Embodiments for touch pen menu 220 are discussed in further detail belowwith respect to the instant FIGS.

Profile and state information 224 includes information associated userprofiles and device/UI states. User profiles may be, but are not limitedto, profiles for different users of a touch device, different profilesfor the same user of a touch device (e.g., personal, work, and/or thelike), administrator profiles, etc. State information may include ahandedness setting, an orientation of the device, what is currentlybeing displayed by one or more physical displays via a UI, and/or thelike, as described herein.

Menu manager 208 includes a plurality of components for performing thefunctions and operations described herein for improvements in Uls viapen-specific user interface controls. As shown, menu manager 208includes an input detector 210, a menu selector 212, a presentationdeterminer 214, and a menu customizer 216. While shown separately forillustrative clarity, in embodiments, one or more of input detector 210,menu selector 212, presentation determiner 214, and/or menu customizer216, may be combined together and/or as a part of other components ofsystem 200. In some embodiments, less than all of the components of menumanager 208 illustrated in FIG. 2 may be included. In softwareimplementations, one or more components of menu manager 208 may bestored in memory 206 and are executed by processor 204.

Input detector 210 may be configured to receive inputs from one or moreinput interfaces of I/O interface(s) 222. In embodiments, the inputs aregenerated by interaction with contact/touch instruments via a touchinterface. For instance, a stylus, touch pen, user finger, and/or thelike may interact with a touchscreen, touchpad, etc. to generate theinputs. Input detector 210 may be configured to determinecharacterization information or characteristics of the contactinstrument interaction with the touch interface, and to identifycommands associated with the input for pen-specific user interfacecontrols, such as when a specific activator of a touch pen is activated(e.g., tail activator 116 described above for FIGS. 1A-1C). As anexample, one or more of communication signal 114 may be received by adigitizer of system 200, such as digitizer 106, that are indicative oftail activator 116 being activated.

Menu selector 212 may be configured to select a menu from Uls and menus218, such as touch pen menu 220, based at least on inputs determined byinput detector 210. For example, as noted above, when a specificactivator of a touch pen is activated, and such a determination is madeby input detector 210, menu selector 212 selects touch pen menu 220 forpresentation via I/O interface(s) 220.

Presentation determiner 214 may be configured to determine locationsand/or orientations for presenting touch pen menu 220. That is,presentation determiner 214 may generate, determine, and/or receivepresentation information for touch pen menu 220, and touch pen menu 220is displayed based at least on this presentation information.Presentation information may be generated, determined, and/or receivedbased at least on profile and state information 224 described above.

Menu customizer 216 may be configured to associate default selectablemenu options with touch pen menu 220, associate user-specifiedchanges/customizations for selectable menu options with touch pen menu220, associate and/or determine selectable menu options with touch penmenu 220 based at least on application usage, and/or the like.

Accordingly, system 200 and menu manager 208 may operate in various waysto enable improvements in Uls via pen-specific user interface controls.Additional details regarding system 200 and menu manager 208 and theirrespective components are provided below.

For instance, FIG. 3 shows a flowchart 300 for pen-specific userinterface controls, according to an example embodiment. System 200 andmenu manager 208 may operate according to flowchart 300, in anembodiment. Further structural and operational examples will be apparentto persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based at least on thefollowing description. Flowchart 300 is described as follows withrespect to system 100D of FIG. 1D and system 200 of FIG. 2 .

Flowchart 300 begins at step 302. In step 302, a communication isreceived from a touch pen that indicates that an activation control ofthe touch pen has been physically activated. For example, input detector210 may be configured to receive inputs from one or more inputinterfaces of I/O interface(s) 222 from a touch instrument, such astouch pen 102 in FIGS. 1A-1D. Inputs such as the communication in step302 may indicate that tail activator 116 of touch pen 102 has beenphysically activated, as described above. In embodiments, such acommunication may be associated with a command to launch anddisplay/present a pen menu for pen-specific user interface controls. Thecommand may be based at least on a touch pen proximity to a touch device(such as system 200) and activation of tail activator 116.

In step 304, a touch pen menu is selected from among a plurality ofmenus based at least on the communication, the touch pen menu includingone or more selectable menu options corresponding to a respectivelaunching of one or more separate pen applications. For instance, inputdetector 210 may provide indicia of the communication received in step302 to menu selector 212, which selects touch pen menu 220 from menus ofUls and menus 218. In embodiments, system 200 settings/configurationsmay be set by a user, or may be set as a default, in a touch devicesettings menu of system 200 such that a specific pen click indicatesthat a user desires for touch pen menu to be presented by system 200.Accordingly, menu selector 212 makes such a selection from among themenus of Uls and menus 218.

Touch pen menu 220, described in further detail below, may includepen-specific user interface controls. For example, touch pen menu 220may include one or more selectable menu options corresponding to arespective launching of one or more separate pen applications (e.g., asicons or the like that when selected by touch pen 102 via contact with atouch device or otherwise, cause the launch and execution of a softwareapplication of apps 228 that is associated with the icon).

In step 306, menu presentation information is determined based at leaston a state of a user interface (UI) at a time associated with thecommunication, the menu presentation information specifying at least alocation within the UI. As noted above, the UI and the touch deviceoperation are both improved by a specified location within the UI forpresenting a touch pen menu that enables accessibility of the menu andthat does not interfere with other items displayed on the UI. Forexample, presentation determiner 214 may be configured to determine menupresentation information, as in step 306. That is, presentationdeterminer 214 may determine locations and/or orientations forpresenting touch pen menu 220, and may generate, determine, and/orreceive presentation information for touch pen menu 220 based at leaston profile and state information 224 described above. Menu presentationinformation may include and/or specify a display of one or more displayson which touch pen menu 220 is presented, a location on the display, anorientation of touch pen menu 220, etc., as described herein.

In step 308, the touch pen menu is displayed via the UI according to themenu presentation information. For instance, menu manager 216 may beconfigured to cause the display of touch pen menu 220 via UIs and menus218 by I/O interface(s) 222. As an example in the context of FIG. 1D,touch pen menu 220 may be displayed on one of display 130 or display 132based at least on the menu presentation information determined in step306. In this way, a particular activation of a control of touch pen 102enables pen-specific user interface controls to be provided to a userfor selection/launching of pen-specific applications from touch pen menu220.

In step 310, a selection indication of a selectable menu option of theone or more selectable menu options that designates a pen application ofthe one or more separate pen applications is received based at least onan interaction of the touch pen with the touch pen menu. For example,subsequent to step 308, a user may interact with a selectable menuoption of touch pen menu 220 using touch pen 102, where the selectablemenu options of touch pen menu 220 include icons, or the like, forpen-specific applications, and the interaction in step 310 may compriseselecting an icon with touch pen 102 for one of the pen-specificapplications in touch pen menu 220. This selection may bereceived/determined by a digitizer of system 200 (not shown for brevityand illustrative clarity, but described above for touch device 104 ofwhich system 200 may be an embodiment).

In step 312, the pen application is launched in the UI. For instance,the selection of a pen-specific application in touch pen menu 220 instep 310 may cause a communication or command to be executed byprocessor 204 launching the selected, pen-specific application. Inembodiments, the executed, pen-specific application, selected from touchpen menu 220, may be displayed via a UI in the same display for whichtouch pen menu 220 was presented.

Turning now to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E, diagrams of user interfaceswith pen menus for pen-specific user interface controls are shown, inaccordance with example embodiments. The Uls of FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D,and/or 4E may be embodiments of system 200 and Uls and menus 218 of FIG.2 , and may be presented/displayed via one or more displays describedherein, such as display 130 and/or display 132 of FIG. 1D, which may beincluded in system 200 of FIG. 2 .

In the embodiment of a UI 400A exemplarily shown in FIG. 4A, display 130and display 132 are shown as presenting a home screen 402 and a homescreen 406 respectively, which are Uls as described herein. UI 400A alsoincludes a menu area 404 and a menu area 408 that are respectivelyassociated with home screen 402 and home screen 406. Menu area 404 andmenu area 408 respectively include default options and/or user-specifiedoptions that may be selected by a user to launch and execute softwareapplications and/or the like. These selectable options of menu area 404and menu area 408 may be icons, etc., and may include, as shown forillustration, a first option portion 412 (A, B, and C options) for homescreen 402 and a second option portion 414 (D, E, and F options) forhome screen 406. Additionally, a home screen of system 400A, illustratedas home screen 406, may present home screen options 410 that maycomprise icons, etc., for selection of other software applications,menus, and/or the like.

As described herein, the activating of an activation control of a touchpen, such as a specific activation control, causes the presentation of atouch pen menu having pen-specific user interface controls via a UI oftouch device. In the embodiment of UI 400A of FIG. 4A, and by way ofexample/illustration and not limitation for FIG. 4A and those thatfollow, such an activation may be performed for a tail activator/buttonof the touch pen, such as tail activator 116 of touch pen 102 referencedin the description of FIGS. 1A-1D above. When physical activation oftail activator 116 is detected or determined by a touch device, a touchpen menu 416 is displayed or presented via UI 400A. Touch pen menu 416may be an embodiment of touch pen menu 200 described with respect toFIG. 2 .

For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, activating tail activator 116 causestouch pen menu 416 to be displayed/presented on display 130 above homescreen 402. Touch pen menu 416 includes one or more pen-specific,selectable menu options (also “options 418” herein) corresponding to arespective launching of one or more separate pen applications (e.g., ofapps 228 in FIG. 2 ) exemplarily illustrated here in FIG. 4A as iconsP1, P2, P3, and P4. Touch pen menu 416 may be displayed on display 130,which is on the user's left side with respect to display 132 being onthe right side, based at least on a handedness setting for the touchdevice comprising display 130 and display 132. That is, a user mayselect, or the system may default to, a handedness setting for the touchdevice that corresponds to handedness (e.g., the user is right-handed orleft-handed; a default to right- or left-handedness may also be used ifno user-specific setting is made). While shown on the left side fordisplay 130 in FIG. 4A, embodiments also contemplate right-sidepresentation for right-handedness settings of the touch device, e.g.,via display 132. Handedness settings may comprise a portion of profileand state information 224 of a touch device, as noted above for FIG. 2 .Thus, the presentation of touch pen menu 416 may be determined based atleast on UI state information as described herein, e.g., viapresentation determiner 214 in FIG. 2 . It is also contemplated hereinthat one or more of options 418, as well as embodiments herein for whichpen-specific applications are referenced, may be associated withsoftware applications that may interact with a touch pen and/or that arenot touch pen specific applications.

In embodiments, first option portion 412 (A, B, and C options) for homescreen 402 and second option portion 414 (D, E, and F options) for homescreen 406 may be combined as combined options 420 and displayed on thedisplay that is not presenting touch pen menu 416. In FIG. 4A, as anexample, because touch pen menu 416 is displayed on display 130 abovehome screen 402, combined options 420 are displayed on display 132 inmenu area 408.

As noted above, right- and left-handedness settings are taken intoaccount for presentation of touch pen menu 416, according toembodiments. FIG. 4B shows a UI 400B of a right-handedness embodiment asan alternative to UI 400A that shows a left-handedness embodiment. In UI400B, a touch device may have a similar initial UI configuration asdescribed above for UI 400A of FIG. 4A with respect to the presentationof home screen 402 on display 130 and home screen 406 on display 132.However, in this scenario with a right-handedness setting for the touchdevice, when tail activator 116 is activated as shown in FIG. 4B, theactivation causes touch pen menu 416 to be displayed/presented ondisplay 132 above home screen 406 wherein touch pen menu 416 includesthe one or more pen-specific, options 418 corresponding to respectivelaunching of pen applications (e.g., icons P1, P2, P3, and P4). In thisembodiment, touch pen menu 416 may be displayed on display 132, which ison the user's right side with respect to display 130 being on the leftside, based at least on a handedness setting for the touch device.Additionally, combined options 420 are shown in FIG. 4B as beingdisplayed on display 130 (in menu area 404) that is not presenting touchpen menu 416.

FIG. 4C illustrates a UI 400C in which handedness and/or an activeapplication being displayed may be considered for determining wheretouch pen menu 416 is presented in the UI. For instance, in FIG. 4C, UI400C illustrates that an executing application has its application UI422 presented via display 130. That is, home screen 402 is not displayedon display 130 because application UI 422 is presented thereby.Additionally, as application UI 422 is presented on display 130,combined options 420 may be displayed on display 132 (in menu area 408).

When tail activator 116 of a touch pen is activated in the illustratedembodiment, touch pen menu 416 is caused to be displayed on display 132above home screen 406 and in place of menu area 408, as shown in FIG.4C. According to embodiments, the right-side presentation of touch penmenu 416 on display 132 may be determined based at least on left sidedisplay 130 already presenting application UI 422 even when a handednesssetting is set to left-side. In other embodiments, handedness may takeprecedence over the display of application UI 422. The display ofapplication UI 422 on display 130 may be stored in profile and stateinformation 224 in FIG. 2 , and presentation determiner 214 may base thedetermination of menu presentation information on the corresponding UIstate.

In FIG. 4D, a UI 400D is illustrated in which handedness and/or anactive application being displayed may be considered for determiningwhere touch pen menu 416 is presented in the UI. For instance, UI 400Dillustrates that an executing application has its application UI 422presented via display 130, as similarly described above for FIG. 4C, andalso illustrates another application UI 424 that is displayed in display132 for another executing software application.

When tail activator 116 of a touch pen is activated in the illustratedembodiment for FIG. 4D, touch pen menu 416 is caused to be displayed ondisplay 132 above application UI 424. According to embodiments, theright-side presentation of touch pen menu 416 on display 132 may bedetermined based at least on left side display 130 already presentingapplication UI 422 and application UI 422 being in focus, even when ahandedness setting is set to left-side. In other embodiments, handednessmay take precedence over the display of application UI 422, such as fora scenario in which either of application UI 422 or application UI 424is in focus, but the handedness setting for the touch device indicates aright-handed user. The display of application UI 422 on display 130 andapplication UI 424 on display 132 may be stored in profile and stateinformation 224 in FIG. 2 , and presentation determiner 214 may base thedetermination of menu presentation information on the corresponding UIstate.

Embodiments herein also provide for displaying an application UI for alaunched, pen-specific software application in the same display on whichtouch pen menu 416 was presented. For example, turning again to FIG. 4Cand the display of touch pen menu 416 on display 132, in a scenario forwhich a user selected P2 of options 418, and application UI 424corresponds to the pen-specific, software application associated withP2, application UI 424 is displayed on display 132 based at least ontouch pen menu 416 also having been presented on display 132.

In FIG. 4E, a UI 400E is illustrated as an embodiment of UI 400A in FIG.4A. UI 400E shows a landscape orientation for display 130 and display132 in which display 130 is above display 132. For instance, a touchdevice that includes two displays may be oriented where the displays areside-by-side, e.g., left and right with respect to each other as with anopen book (as in FIG. 4A), or where the displays are orientedtop-and-bottom as in UI 400E, e.g., similar to opening a laptopcomputing device. As an example, in the orientation of FIG. 4E for UI400E, display 130 and display 132 may be oriented about a horizontalaxis 426, at various angles. In the illustrated embodiment, display 130may be referred to as the “top” display relative to display 132, anddisplay 132 may be referred to as the “bottom” display relative todisplay 130.

The orientation of UI 400E may be determined by one or moreaccelerometers of the touch device during/after rotating a touch device,may be set in a configuration setting of the touch device, and/or thelike. Information for such an orientation as in UI 400E may be stored inprofile and state information 224 of FIG. 2 , and presentationdeterminer 214 may base the determination of menu presentationinformation on the corresponding UI state. Additionally, presentation ofmenu area 404 and first option portion 412, as well as menu area 408 andsecond option portion 414, may be determined based at least on theorientation of UI 400E.

In the embodiment illustrated in UI 400E, two home screens are initiallypresented, shown as home screen 402 and home screen 406, describedabove, similarly as shown for FIGS. 4A and 4B, but in a landscapeorientation. Activating tail activator 116 causes touch pen menu 416with options 418 to be displayed/presented on display 132 above homescreen 406. Touch pen menu 416 may be displayed on display 132, which isthe “bottom” display, based at least on the orientation of UI 400E.Additionally, touch pen menu 416 may be displayed on the right side ofdisplay 132, based at least on a handedness setting for the touch device(although embodiments also contemplate displaying touch pen menu 416 onthe left side of display 132 for a corresponding handedness setting,e.g., displacing or overlaying home screen options 410). Thus, thepresentation of touch pen menu 416 may be determined based at least onUI state information as described herein, e.g., via presentationdeterminer 214 in FIG. 2 . As noted above, the UI and the touch deviceoperation are both improved by a specified location within the UI forpresenting a touch pen menu that accounts for handedness of a userwhich, that improves accessibility of the menu at a side of the touchdevice corresponding to the hand with which the user wields the touchpen.

It is also contemplated herein that, in embodiments for the orientationof UI 400E, the “top” display, i.e., display 130 as illustrated, may beused to present touch pen menu 416 based at least on default devicesettings, user preference, etc.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D will now be described. FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5Dshow diagrams of user interfaces with pen menus for pen-specific userinterface controls, in accordance with example embodiments. For example,embodiments herein provide for the display of a touch pen menu, oralternatively, selectable menu options thereof as described herein(e.g., options 418 described above), with other menus/application UIsbased at least on touch pen interactions.

FIG. 5A shows a UI 500A that is an embodiment of UI 400A in FIG. 4A, andthat may be adapted to UI 400B of FIG. 4B, UI 400C of FIG. 4C, UI 400Dof FIG. 4D, and/or UI 400E of FIG. 4E. UI 500A illustrates, initially,the presentation of touch pen menu 416 on display 130, e.g., subsequentto the activation of an activation control of a touch pen such as tailactivator 116, described herein. In addition, UI 500A includes a handle502 of touch pen menu 416, according to embodiments. Handle 502 may be acontrol that enables a user to drag touch pen menu 416 and expand it foradditional options and features thereof, as described below.

For instance, handle 502 may be dragged “upward” across home screen 402on display 130 (or any other UI displayed thereon). This drag gesturemay be performed using a touch pen, as described herein, such as touchpen 102 in FIGS. 1A-1C, or in other embodiments, by a finger or othertouch instrument in some embodiments. A digitizer of a touch device thatcomprises display 130 and display 132 is configured to detect thisdragging interaction by the touch pen and cause a command to begenerated to expand touch pen menu 416 into a drawer menu 506 displayedon display 130, as in FIG. 5A for UI 500A. Drawer menu 506 is anembodiment of an expanded pen touch menu 416 having additional optionsand function described below.

For example, as illustrated, drawer menu 506 may include a search box508 with which a user interacts to search for applications, menus,webpages, etc. Additionally, options 418 of touch pen menu 416 may bedisplayed in drawer menu 506 above a list or set of drawer options 510.Drawer options 510 may include selectable control options thatcorrespond software applications and/or menus executable/presentable bythe touch device. In embodiments, drawer options 510 may comprise one ormore of home screen options 410, control options not included in homescreen options 410, and/or the like. Drawer options 510, when includingpen-specific, selectable control options in addition to those in options418, may include such additional pen-specific, selectable controloptions at the top of drawer options 510, e.g., based at least on adetermination that that the drag operation to expand touch pen menu 410into drawer menu 506 was performed by a touch pen, or otherwise.

Drawer menu 506 may include options and functions based at least on aprofile of a user, according to embodiments. For instance, FIG. 5B showsa UI 500B, and FIG. 5C shows a UI 500C, which may be embodiments of UI500A in FIG. 5A. UI 500B illustrates a variation of drawer menu 506 thatincludes one or more profile controls 518 that enable a user to specifya user profile to be applied to drawer menu 506. User profiles may bestored as part of profiles and state information 222 in FIG. 2 , and mayinclude without limitation, profiles for different users of a touchdevice, different profiles for the same user of a touch device (e.g.,personal, work, and/or the like), administrator profiles, etc.

As shown for UI 500B in FIG. 5B and UI 500C in FIG. 5C, profile controls518 includes a first profile “Profile A” and a second profile “ProfileA”, while more profiles are also contemplated herein, that may beselected by a user. With respect to UI 500B, the first profile isselected (which may be by express selection or default), and a set 512(e.g., P1, P3, and P4) of options 418 associated with this profile aredisplayed instead of the full number of options 418 (e.g., set 512 doesnot include (P2) of options 418). In embodiments, drawer options 510 asdescribed above may be displayed for a given, or for each, profileselected. With respect to UI 500C, the second profile is selected (whichmay be by express selection or default), and a set 514 (e.g., P2) ofoptions 418 associated with this profile are displayed instead of thefull number of options 418 (e.g., set 514 is shown to only include (P2)of options 418). In embodiments, a profile selection via profilecontrols 518 may cause alternate drawer options 516 to be displayed indrawer menu 506 instead of drawer options 510. As an example, if thesecond profile is a “work” profile, alternate drawer options 516 mayinclude, e.g., productivity application options, or may list suchoptions first in alternate drawer options 516.

FIG. 5D shows a UI 500D that is an embodiment of UI 400A in FIG. 4A, andthat may be adapted to UI 400B of FIG. 4B, UI 400C of FIG. 4C, UI 400Dof FIG. 4D, and/or UI 400E of FIG. 4E. UI 500D illustrates, initially,the presentation of home screen 402 on display 130 and of home screen406 on display 132. In embodiments, a user of a touch device such asthose described herein may activate a general search menu by “swipingdown” from the top of a display. According to pen-specific userinterface control embodiments herein, a user may perform such a “swipedown” using a touch pen, such as touch pen 102 described herein andshown in FIGS. 1A-1C.

For instance, a swipe down operation 520 may be performed using a touchpen for home screen 406 on display 132 (although similar operations forhome screen 402 on display 130 are also contemplated). A digitizer ofthe touch device (e.g., as described for FIG. 1C) comprising display 132is configured to detect this swiping interaction as being performed bythe touch pen and cause a command to be generated to display a searchmenu 522 that includes search options, e.g., a search box 524 with whicha user interacts to search for applications, menus, webpages, etc., akeyboard 526 for text entry of search box 524, and or the like, inaddition to displaying options 418 of touch pen menu 416. That is, atypical search menu or application in prior touch devices does notpresent pen-specific user interface controls when activated, yet theembodiments herein enable a user to be presented with options 418 whensearch menu 522 is activated by a “swipe” with a touch pen. Inembodiments, a “swipe” with a finger instead of a touch pen does notpresent options 418 in search menu 522.

The embodiments described herein for pen-specific user interfacecontrols also provide for touch pen menu configuration and customizationwhich may be enabled and/or implemented by menu customizer 216 of system200 in FIG. 2 . In this context, FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, each of whichshow diagrams of user interfaces with pen menus for pen-specific userinterface controls, in accordance with example embodiments, will now bedescribed with exemplary reference to FIG. 4A and touch pen menu 416thereof.

FIG. 6A shows a UI 600A that includes touch pen menu 416. In theillustrated embodiment, UI 600 may be displayed on a display of a deviceby menu customizer 216, e.g., on display 130 or display 132 as describedabove and shown in FIG. 4A. Touch pen menu 416, as noted herein, mayinclude options 418 that are selectable by a user and which maycorrespond to different pen-specific software applications. In someembodiments, in place of one of options 418 may be a selectablecustomization option, and in such embodiments, options 602, which is anembodiment of options 418, includes a selectable customization option604, as shown for UI 600A, to configure or customize touch pen menu 416in conjunction with menu customizer 216. User selection of customizationoption 604 may cause a pen menu customization UI 606 to be displayed.Pen menu customization UI 606 may be associated with touch devicesettings, and options, configurations, customizations, changes, and/orthe like, made via pen menu customization UI 606 may be saved as touchdevice settings by menu customizer 216.

As noted above, touch pen menu 416 may initially, or upon updates to atouch device, include default or pre-determined selectable options. Penmenu customization UI 606 may display options 602 for user selection andenable a user to add, remove, or otherwise change the selectable optionsfor touch pen menu 416 that correspond to pen-specific applications,which can be launched by option selection. User selections, changes,etc., may be implemented in a touch device via menu customizer 216. Forinstance, in UI 600A, a user may select customization option 604 and bepresented with pen menu customization UI 606 to remove selectable option“P2” from touch pen menu 416. This may be accomplished by displaying a“Remove” option when the user selects “P2” in pen menu customization UI606, and determining that the “Remove” option is subsequently selectedby the user. Menu customizer 216 may then be configured to save thecustomized changes to settings of the touch device and/or to touch penmenu 416.

Additionally, or alternatively, a user may select customization option604 while pen menu customization UI 606 is displayed causing the touchdevice to display an applications list 608 on the display. Applicationslist 608 may include selectable options for applications on the touchdevice that the user can add to touch pen menu 416 as one of options 418or options 602, and may also include an “Empty” option should the userdesire to not add an application from application list 608. Menucustomizer 216 may then be configured to save the customized changes tosettings of the touch device and/or to touch pen menu 416.

FIG. 6B shows a UI 600B that is an embodiment of pen menu customizationUI 606. For instance, UI 600B illustrates the ability of a user toreorder options 602 subsequent to pen menu customization UI 606 beingdisplayed, e.g., as described above for UI 600A in FIG. 6A. In anon-limiting example, a user may use a touch pen as described herein, oranother touch instrument, to drag one of options 602 of touch pen menu416 to another position. As shown in FIG. 6B for UI 600B, selectableoption “P2” is dragged by the user to the position occupied byselectable option “P3.” Accordingly, “P3” may be automatically moved tothe position previously occupied by selectable option “P2” as shown foroptions 602′ in FIG. 6B. Menu customizer 216 may then be configured tosave the customized changes to settings of the touch device and/or totouch pen menu 416.

FIG. 6C shows a UI 600C that may be presented on a display of a touchdevice, e.g., display 130 or display 132 as noted above and shown in theinstant FIGS., and that may be accessible via pen menu customization UI606 and/or via a touch device settings menu of a touch device. UI 600Cdisplays a single-click menu 610 that includes options by which a usermay select actions for a single click of a touch pen, e.g., asingle-click of a tail activator as described above. One of the optionsof single-click menu 610 may be a “Pen Menu” option that configures thetouch device to perform one or more embodiments for pen-specific userinterface controls, as described herein. In embodiments, the “Pen Menu”option may be set by default, by updates to the touch device, by userselection via single-click menu 610, and/or the like.

III. Example Mobile Device and Computing Device Embodiments

Embodiments described herein may be implemented in hardware, or hardwarecombined with software and/or firmware. For example, embodimentsdescribed herein may be implemented as computer programcode/instructions configured to be executed in one or more processorsand stored in a computer readable storage medium. Alternatively,embodiments described herein may be implemented as hardwarelogic/electrical circuitry.

As noted herein, the embodiments described, including systems 100A-100Dof FIGS. 1A-1D, respectively, system 200 of FIG. 2 , and any Uls ofFIGS. 4A-4E, FIGS. 5A-5D, and/or FIGS. 6A-6C, along with any componentsand/or subcomponents thereof, as well as the flowcharts/flow diagramsdescribed herein, including portions thereof, and/or further examplesdescribed herein, may be implemented in hardware, or hardware with anycombination of software and/or firmware, including being implemented ascomputer program code configured to be executed in one or moreprocessors and stored in a computer readable storage medium, or beingimplemented as hardware logic/electrical circuitry, such as beingimplemented together in a system-on-chip (SoC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA), or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).A SoC may include an integrated circuit chip that includes one or moreof a processor (e.g., a microcontroller, microprocessor, digital signalprocessor (DSP), etc.), memory, one or more communication interfaces,and/or further circuits and/or embedded firmware to perform itsfunctions.

Embodiments described herein may be implemented in one or more computingdevices similar to a mobile system and/or a computing device instationary or mobile computer embodiments, including one or morefeatures of mobile systems and/or computing devices described herein, aswell as alternative features. The descriptions of mobile systems andcomputing devices provided herein are provided for purposes ofillustration, and are not intended to be limiting. Embodiments may beimplemented in further types of computer systems, as would be known topersons skilled in the relevant art(s).

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile system 700 thatincludes a mobile device 702 that may implement embodiments describedherein. For example, mobile device 702 may be used to implement anysystem, client, or device, or components/subcomponents thereof, in thepreceding sections. As shown in FIG. 7 , mobile device 702 includes avariety of optional hardware and software components. Any component inmobile device 702 can communicate with any other component, although notall connections are shown for ease of illustration. Mobile device 702can be any of a variety of computing devices (e.g., cell phone, smartphone, handheld computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), etc.) andcan allow wireless two-way communications with one or more mobilecommunications networks 704, such as a cellular or satellite network, orwith a local area or wide area network.

Mobile device 702 can include a controller or processor 710 (e.g.,signal processor, microprocessor, ASIC, or other control and processinglogic circuitry) for performing such tasks as signal coding, dataprocessing, input/output processing, power control, and/or otherfunctions. An operating system 712 can control the allocation and usageof the components of mobile device 702 and provide support for one ormore application programs 714 (also referred to as “applications” or“apps”). Application programs 714 may include common mobile computingapplications (e.g., e-mail applications, calendars, contact managers,web browsers, messaging applications) and any other computingapplications (e.g., word processing applications, mapping applications,media player applications).

Mobile device 702 can include memory 720. Memory 720 can includenon-removable memory 722 and/or removable memory 724. Non-removablememory 722 can include RAM, ROM, flash memory, a hard disk, or otherwell-known memory devices or technologies. Removable memory 724 caninclude flash memory or a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, whichis well known in GSM communication systems, or other well-known memorydevices or technologies, such as “smart cards.” Memory 720 can be usedfor storing data and/or code for running operating system 712 andapplication programs 714. Example data can include web pages, text,images, sound files, video data, or other data to be sent to and/orreceived from one or more network servers or other devices via one ormore wired or wireless networks. Memory 720 can be used to store asubscriber identifier, such as an International Mobile SubscriberIdentity (IMSI), and an equipment identifier, such as an InternationalMobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI). Such identifiers can be transmittedto a network server to identify users and equipment.

A number of programs may be stored in memory 720. These programs includeoperating system 712, one or more application programs 714, and otherprogram modules and program data. Examples of such application programsor program modules may include, for example, computer program logic(e.g., computer program code or instructions) for implementing one ormore of systems 100A-100D of FIGS. 1A-1D, respectively, system 200 ofFIG. 2 , and any Uls of FIGS. 4A-4E, FIGS. 5A-5D, and/or FIGS. 6A-6C,along with any components and/or subcomponents thereof, as well as theflowcharts/flow diagrams described herein, including portions thereof,and/or further examples described herein.

Mobile device 702 can support one or more input devices 730, such as atouch screen 732, a microphone 734, a camera 736, a physical keyboard738 and/or a trackball 740 and one or more output devices 750, such as aspeaker 752 and a display 754. Other possible output devices (not shown)can include piezoelectric or other haptic output devices. Some devicescan serve more than one input/output function. For example, touch screen732 and display 754 can be combined in a single input/output device. Inembodiments, mobile device 702 may include two or more physicalinstances of touch screen 732 and/or display 754. Input devices 730 caninclude a Natural User Interface (NUI).

One or more wireless modems 760 can be coupled to antenna(s) (not shown)and can support two-way communications between processor 710 andexternal devices, as is well understood in the art. Modem 760 is showngenerically and can include a cellular modem 766 for communicating withthe mobile communication network 704 and/or other radio-based modems(e.g., Bluetooth 764 and/or Wi-Fi 762). At least one wireless modem 760is typically configured for communication with one or more cellularnetworks, such as a GSM network for data and voice communications withina single cellular network, between cellular networks, or between themobile device and a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

Mobile device 702 can further include at least one input/output port780, a power supply 782, a satellite navigation system receiver 784,such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, an accelerometer786, and/or a physical connector 790, which can be a USB port, IEEE 1394(FireWire) port, and/or RS-232 port. The illustrated components ofmobile device 702 are not required or all-inclusive, as any componentscan be deleted and other components can be added as would be recognizedby one skilled in the art.

In an embodiment, mobile device 702 is configured to implement any ofthe above-described features of flowcharts herein. Computer programlogic for performing any of the operations, steps, and/or functionsdescribed herein may be stored in memory 720 and executed by processor710.

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary implementation of a computing device 800 inwhich embodiments may be implemented. For example, embodiments describedherein may be implemented in one or more computing devices similar tocomputing device 800 in stationary or mobile computer embodiments,including one or more features of computing device 800 and/oralternative features. The description of computing device 800 providedherein is provided for purposes of illustration, and is not intended tobe limiting. Embodiments may be implemented in further types of computersystems and/or game consoles, etc., as would be known to persons skilledin the relevant art(s).

As shown in FIG. 8 , computing device 800 includes one or moreprocessors, referred to as processor circuit 802, a system memory 804,and a bus 806 that couples various system components including systemmemory 804 to processor circuit 802.

Processor circuit 802 is an electrical and/or optical circuitimplemented in one or more physical hardware electrical circuit deviceelements and/or integrated circuit devices (semiconductor material chipsor dies) as a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, amicroprocessor, and/or other physical hardware processor circuit.Processor circuit 802 may execute program code stored in a computerreadable medium, such as program code of operating system 830,application programs 832, other programs 834, etc. Bus 806 representsone or more of any of several types of bus structures, including amemory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, an acceleratedgraphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of a variety ofbus architectures. System memory 804 includes read only memory (ROM) 808and random access memory (RAM) 810. A basic input/output system 812(BIOS) is stored in ROM 808.

Computing device 800 also has one or more of the following drives: ahard disk drive 814 for reading from and writing to a hard disk, amagnetic disk drive 816 for reading from or writing to a removablemagnetic disk 818, and an optical disk drive 820 for reading from orwriting to a removable optical disk 822 such as a CD ROM, DVD ROM, orother optical media. Hard disk drive 814, magnetic disk drive 816, andoptical disk drive 820 are connected to bus 806 by a hard disk driveinterface 824, a magnetic disk drive interface 826, and an optical driveinterface 828, respectively. The drives and their associatedcomputer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules and other data for thecomputer. Although a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk and aremovable optical disk are described, other types of hardware-basedcomputer-readable storage media can be used to store data, such as flashmemory cards, digital video disks, RAMs, ROMs, and other hardwarestorage media.

A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk, magneticdisk, optical disk, ROM, or RAM. These programs include operating system830, one or more application programs 832, other programs 834, andprogram data 836. Application programs 832 or other programs 834 mayinclude, for example, computer program logic (e.g., computer programcode or instructions) for implementing embodiments described herein,such as systems 100A-100D of FIGS. 1A-1D, respectively, system 200 ofFIG. 2 , and any UIs of FIGS. 4A-4E, FIGS. 5A-5D, and/or FIGS. 6A-6C,along with any components and/or subcomponents thereof, as well as theflowcharts/flow diagrams described herein, including portions thereof,and/or further examples described herein.

A user may enter commands and information into the computing device 800through input devices such as keyboard 838 and pointing device 840.Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, gamepad, satellite dish, scanner, a touch screen and/or touch pad, a voicerecognition system to receive voice input, a gesture recognition systemto receive gesture input, or the like. These and other input devices areoften connected to processor circuit 802 through a serial port interface842 that is coupled to bus 806, but may be connected by otherinterfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serialbus (USB).

A display screen 844 is also connected to bus 806 via an interface, suchas a video adapter 846. Display screen 844 may be external to, orincorporated in computing device 800. Display screen 844 may displayinformation, as well as being a user interface for receiving usercommands and/or other information (e.g., by touch, finger gestures,virtual keyboard, etc.). In addition to display screen 844, computingdevice 800 may include other peripheral output devices (not shown) suchas speakers and printers. In embodiments, display screen 844 may includetwo or more physical display screens.

Computing device 800 is connected to a network 848 (e.g., the Internet)through an adaptor or network interface 850, a modem 852, or other meansfor establishing communications over the network. Modem 852, which maybe internal or external, may be connected to bus 806 via serial portinterface 842, as shown in FIG. 8 , or may be connected to bus 806 usinganother interface type, including a parallel interface.

As used herein, the terms “computer program medium,” “computer-readablemedium,” and “computer-readable storage medium,” etc., are used to referto physical hardware media. Examples of such physical hardware mediainclude the hard disk associated with hard disk drive 814, removablemagnetic disk 818, removable optical disk 822, other physical hardwaremedia such as RAMs, ROMs, flash memory cards, digital video disks, zipdisks, MEMs, nanotechnology-based storage devices, and further types ofphysical/tangible hardware storage media (including memory 820 of FIG. 8). Such computer-readable media and/or storage media are distinguishedfrom and non-overlapping with communication media and propagatingsignals (do not include communication media and propagating signals).Communication media embodies computer-readable instructions, datastructures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signalsuch as a carrier wave. The term “modulated data signal” means a signalthat has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such amanner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, andnot limitation, communication media includes wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media, as well as wired media.Embodiments are also directed to such communication media that areseparate and non-overlapping with embodiments directed tocomputer-readable storage media.

As noted above, computer programs and modules (including applicationprograms 832 and other programs 834) may be stored on the hard disk,magnetic disk, optical disk, ROM, RAM, or other hardware storage medium.Such computer programs may also be received via network interface 850,serial port interface 842, or any other interface type. Such computerprograms, based at least on execution thereof or loading thereof by anapplication, enable computing device 800 to implement features ofembodiments discussed herein. Accordingly, such computer programsrepresent controllers of the computing device 800.

Embodiments are also directed to computer program products comprisingcomputer code or instructions stored on any computer-readable medium orcomputer-readable storage medium. Such computer program products includehard disk drives, optical disk drives, memory device packages, portablememory sticks, memory cards, and other types of physical storagehardware.

IV. Additional Example and Advantages

As described, systems and devices embodying the techniques herein may beconfigured and enabled in various ways to perform their respectivefunctions. In embodiments, one or more of the steps or operations of anyflowchart and/or flow diagram described herein may not be performed.Moreover, steps or operations in addition to or in lieu of those in anyflowchart and/or flow diagram described herein may be performed.Further, in examples, one or more operations of any flowchart and/orflow diagram described herein may be performed out of order, in analternate sequence, or partially (or completely) concurrently with eachother or with other operations.

While embodiments described in the Sections above may be described inthe context of a touch pen and touch inputs via touch interfaces oftouch devices, the embodiments herein are not so limited and may also beapplied through other input devices.

It is also contemplated herein that selectable options for touch penmenus, as well as other menus described herein that are presented basedon specific touch pen activators, may be associated with softwareapplications that may interact with a touch pen and/or that are nottouch pen specific applications. For example, it is contemplated hereinthat a mix selectable options associated with touch pen applications forwhich touch pen functionality is mainly utilized and associated withapplications that are not specific to touch pens may be presented inmenus, for various embodiments.

Furthermore, the described embodiments do not exist in softwareimplementations for enhancements and improvements to Uls, much less forpen-specific user interface controls. Conventional solutions lack theability to customize Uls for pen-specific user interface controls basedat least on specific interactions with touch pens.

The additional examples and embodiments described in this Section may beapplicable to examples disclosed in any other Section or subsection ofthis disclosure.

A system is described herein. The system may be configured and enabledin various ways for pen-specific user interface controls, as describedherein. The system includes a memory that stores program code, and aprocessing system, that includes one or more processors, configured toreceive the program code from the memory and, in response to at leastreceiving the program code, to: receive a communication from a touch penthat indicates that an activation control of the touch pen has beenphysically activated, select a touch pen menu from among a plurality ofmenus based at least on the communication, the touch pen menu includingone or more selectable menu options corresponding to a respectivelaunching of one or more separate pen applications, determine menupresentation information based at least on a state of a user interface(UI) at a time associated with the communication, the menu presentationinformation specifying at least a location within the UI, and display,via the UI, the touch pen menu according to the menu presentationinformation.

In an embodiment of the system, the activation control of the touch penincludes a tail activator, and the processing system is configured, inresponse to the at least receiving the program code, to determine thelocation within the UI based at least on a handedness setting of thestate of the UI.

In an embodiment, the system further includes a first physical displayand a second physical display configured to respectively display a firstportion of the UI and a second portion of the UI, and the processingsystem is configured, in response to the at least receiving the programcode, to determine the location within the UI as being within the firstportion of the UI based at least on at least one of: the first portionof the UI corresponding to a handedness setting of the state of the UI,or the state of the UI indicating the first portion of the UI displays ahome screen and the second portion of the UI displays an executingapplication that is in focus

In an embodiment of the system, the processing system is configured, inresponse to the at least receiving the program code, to: receive, basedat least on an interaction of the touch pen with the touch pen menu, aselection indication of a selectable menu option of the one or moreselectable menu options that designates a pen application of the one ormore separate pen applications, and launch the pen application in thefirst portion of the UI on the first physical display based at least onthe location within the UI.

In an embodiment, the system further includes a first physical displayand a second physical display configured to respectively display, in avertically-aligned orientation, a first portion of the UI beneath asecond portion of the UI, and the processing system is configured, inresponse to the at least receiving the program code, to determine themenu presentation information based at least on the state of the UIindicating the first portion of the UI is beneath the second portion ofthe UI, the menu presentation information specifying at least: that thelocation within the UI is within the first portion of the UI, and anorientation of the touch pen menu that designates a vertical displaythereof.

A method performed by a computing device is also described herein. Themethod may be for pen-specific user interface controls, as describedherein. The method includes receiving a communication from a touch penthat indicates an activation control of the touch pen has beenphysically activated, selecting a touch pen menu from among a pluralityof menus based at least on the communication, the touch pen menuincluding one or more selectable menu options corresponding to arespective launching of one or more separate pen applications,determining menu presentation information based at least on a state of auser interface (UI) at a time associated with the communication, themenu presentation information specifying at least a location within theUI, and displaying, via the UI, the touch pen menu according to the menupresentation information.

In an embodiment of the method, the activation control of the touch penincludes a tail activator, and the method further includes determiningthe location within the UI based at least on a handedness setting of thestate of the UI.

In an embodiment of the method, the computing device includes a firstphysical display and a second physical display configured torespectively display a first portion of the UI and a second portion ofthe UI, and the method further includes determining the location withinthe UI as being within the first portion of the UI based at least on atleast one of: the first portion of the UI corresponding to a handednesssetting of the state of the UI, or the state of the UI indicating thefirst portion of the UI displays a home screen and the second portion ofthe UI displays an executing application that is in focus.

In an embodiment, the method further includes receiving, based at leaston an interaction of the touch pen with the touch pen menu, a selectionindication of a selectable menu option of the one or more selectablemenu options that designates a pen application of the one or moreseparate pen applications, and launching the pen application in thefirst portion of the UI on the first physical display based at least onthe location within the UI.

In an embodiment of the method, the touch pen menu includes aninteractive handle, and the method further includes: detecting a drag ofthe interactive handle across the UI, and displaying, via the UI, anexpansion of the touch pen menu as a drawer, the drawer including theone or more selectable menu options in a top row of the drawer andincluding one or more selectable drawer options below the top row.

In an embodiment of the method, the one or more selectable menu optionsin the top row of the drawer correspond to: a first set of options basedat least on a first profile of a user, or a second set of options basedat least on a second profile the user.

In an embodiment of the method, the one or more selectable menu optionsinclude a customization option, and the method further includes:receiving, based at least on an interaction of the touch pen with thecustomization option, a menu customization indication, and displaying afirst sub-menu in the UI responsive to the menu customizationindication, the first sub-menu including selectable customizationoptions that include at least one of: reordering of the one or moreselectable menu options, adding a selectable menu option to the one ormore selectable menu options, or removing one of the one or moreselectable menu options.

In an embodiment, the method further includes, prior to said displaying,determining at least one of the one or more selectable menu optionsbased at least on one or more of: a pre-determined set of penapplications that are executable by the computing device, or a usagemetric associated with one or more pen applications that have beenexecuted by the computing device, and the method further includesassociating the one or more selectable menu options with the touch penmenu.

In an embodiment, the method further includes detecting a drag gestureof the touch pen across the UI that is indicative of executing a searchapplication, executing the search application responsive to saiddetecting, and displaying via the UI: a search UI of the executed searchapplication, and the one or more selectable menu options in the searchUI based at least on the drag gesture being performed with the touchpen.

A computer-readable storage medium having program code recorded thereonthat, based at least on execution of the program code by a computingdevice, perform a method, is also described. The method may be forpen-specific user interface controls, as described herein. The methodincludes receiving a communication from a touch pen that indicates anactivation control of the touch pen has been physically activated,selecting a touch pen menu from among a plurality of menus based atleast on the communication, the touch pen menu including one or moreselectable menu options corresponding to a respective launching of oneor more separate pen applications, determining menu presentationinformation based at least on a state of a user interface (UI) at a timeassociated with the communication, the menu presentation informationspecifying at least a location within the UI, and displaying, via theUI, the touch pen menu according to the menu presentation information.

In an embodiment of the computer-readable storage medium, the activationcontrol of the touch pen includes a tail activator, and the methodfurther includes determining the location within the UI based at leaston a handedness setting of the state of the UI.

In an embodiment of the computer-readable storage medium, the computingdevice includes a first physical display and a second physical displayconfigured to respectively display a first portion of the UI and asecond portion of the UI, and the method further includes determiningthe location within the UI as being within the first portion of the UIbased at least on at least one of: the first portion of the UIcorresponding to a handedness setting of the state of the UI, or thestate of the UI indicating the first portion of the UI displays a homescreen and the second portion of the UI displays an executingapplication that is in focus.

In an embodiment of the computer-readable storage medium, the methodincludes: receiving, based at least on an interaction of the touch penwith the touch pen menu, a selection indication of a selectable menuoption of the one or more selectable menu options that designates a penapplication of the one or more separate pen applications, and launchingthe pen application in the first portion of the UI on the first physicaldisplay based at least on the location within the UI.

In an embodiment of the computer-readable storage medium, the touch penmenu includes an interactive handle, and the method further includes:detecting a drag of the interactive handle across the UI, anddisplaying, via the UI, an expansion of the touch pen menu as a drawer,the drawer including the one or more selectable menu options in a toprow of the drawer and including one or more selectable drawer optionsbelow the top row.

In an embodiment of the computer-readable storage medium, the one ormore selectable menu options in the top row of the drawer correspond to:a first set of options based at least on a first profile of a user, or asecond set of options based at least on a second profile the user.

V. Conclusion

While various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter have beendescribed above, it should be understood that they have been presentedby way of example only, and not limitation. It will be understood bythose skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the embodiments as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, thebreadth and scope of the disclosed subject matter should not be limitedby any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should bedefined only in accordance with the following claims and theirequivalents.

1. A system, comprising: a memory that stores program code; and aprocessing system, comprising one or more processors, configured toreceive the program code from the memory and, in response to at leastreceiving the program code, to: receive a communication from a touch penthat indicates that an activation control of the touch pen has beenphysically activated; select a touch pen menu from among a plurality ofmenus based at least on the communication indicating that the activationcontrol of the touch pen has been physically activated, the touch penmenu including one or more selectable menu options corresponding to arespective launching of one or more separate pen applications; determinemenu presentation information based at least on a state of a userinterface (UI) at a time associated with the communication, the menupresentation information specifying at least a location within the UI;display, via the UI, the touch pen menu according to the menupresentation information, the touch pen menu comprising an interactivehandle; detect a drag of the interactive handle across the UI; anddisplay, via the UI, an expansion of the touch pen menu as a drawer, thedrawer including: the one or more selectable menu options in a top rowof the drawer, and one or more selectable drawer options below the toprow, the one or more selectable menu options in the top row of thedrawer corresponding to: a first set of options based at least on afirst profile of a user, the first profile being selectable by a firstprofile UI option displayed in the drawer, or a second set of optionsbased at least on a second profile of the user, the second profile beingselectable by a second profile UI option displayed in the drawer.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the activation control of the touch pencomprises a tail activator; and wherein the processing system isconfigured, in response to the at least receiving the program code, todetermine the location within the UI based at least on a handednesssetting of the state of the UI.
 3. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a first physical display and a second physical displayconfigured to respectively display a first portion of the UI and asecond portion of the UI; and wherein the processing system isconfigured, in response to the at least receiving the program code, todetermine the location within the UI as being within the first portionof the UI based at least on at least one of: the first portion of the UIcorresponding to a handedness setting of the state of the UI; or thestate of the UI indicating the first portion of the UI displays a homescreen and the second portion of the UI displays an executingapplication that is in focus.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein theprocessing system is configured, in response to the at least receivingthe program code, to: receive, based at least on an interaction of thetouch pen with the touch pen menu, a selection indication of aselectable menu option of the one or more selectable menu options thatdesignates a pen application of the one or more separate penapplications; and launch the pen application in the first portion of theUI on the first physical display based at least on the location withinthe UI.
 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first physicaldisplay and a second physical display configured to respectivelydisplay, in a vertically-aligned orientation, a first portion of the UIbeneath a second portion of the UI; and wherein the processing system isconfigured, in response to the at least receiving the program code, todetermine the menu presentation information based at least on the stateof the UI indicating the first portion of the UI is beneath the secondportion of the UI, the menu presentation information specifying atleast: that the location within the UI is within the first portion ofthe UI; and an orientation of the touch pen menu that designates avertical display thereof.
 6. A method performed by a computing device,the method comprising: receiving a communication from a touch pen thatindicates an activation control of the touch pen has been physicallyactivated; selecting a touch pen menu from among a plurality of menusbased at least on the communication indicating that the activationcontrol of the touch pen has been physically activated, the touch penmenu including one or more selectable menu options corresponding to arespective launching of one or more separate pen applications;determining menu presentation information based at least on a state of auser interface (UI) at a time associated with the communication, themenu presentation information specifying at least a location within theUI; displaying, via the UI, the touch pen menu according to the menupresentation information, the touch pen menu comprising an interactivehandle; detecting a drag of the interactive handle across the UI; anddisplaying, via the UI, an expansion of the touch pen menu as a drawer,the drawer including: the one or more selectable menu options in a toprow of the drawer, and one or more selectable drawer options below thetop row, the one or more selectable menu options in the top row of thedrawer corresponding to: a first set of options based at least on afirst profile of a user, the first profile being selectable by a firstprofile UI option displayed in the drawer; or a second set of optionsbased at least on a second profile of the user, the second profile beingselectable by a second profile UI option displayed in the drawer.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the activation control of the touch pencomprises a tail activator; and the method further comprises determiningthe location within the UI based at least on a handedness setting of thestate of the UI.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the computing devicecomprises a first physical display and a second physical displayconfigured to respectively display a first portion of the UI and asecond portion of the UI; and wherein the method further comprisesdetermining the location within the UI as being within the first portionof the UI based at least on at least one of: the first portion of the UIcorresponding to a handedness setting of the state of the UI; or thestate of the UI indicating the first portion of the UI displays a homescreen and the second portion of the UI displays an executingapplication that is in focus.
 9. The method of claim 8, comprising:receiving, based at least on an interaction of the touch pen with thetouch pen menu, a selection indication of a selectable menu option ofthe one or more selectable menu options that designates a penapplication of the one or more separate pen applications; and launchingthe pen application in the first portion of the UI on the first physicaldisplay based at least on the location within the UI. 10-11. (Canceled)12. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more selectable menuoptions comprise a customization option; and wherein the method furthercomprises: receiving, based at least on an interaction of the touch penwith the customization option, a menu customization indication; anddisplaying a first sub-menu in the UI responsive to the menucustomization indication, the first sub-menu comprising selectablecustomization options that include at least one of: reordering of theone or more selectable menu options; adding a selectable menu option tothe one or more selectable menu options; or removing one of the one ormore selectable menu options.
 13. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising: prior to said displaying, determining at least one of theone or more selectable menu options based at least on one or more of: apre-determined set of pen applications that are executable by thecomputing device; or a usage metric associated with one or more penapplications that have been executed by the computing device; andassociating the one or more selectable menu options with the touch penmenu.
 14. The method of claim 6, further comprising: detecting a draggesture of the touch pen across the UI that is indicative of executing asearch application; executing the search application responsive to saiddetecting; and displaying via the UI: a search UI of the executed searchapplication, and the one or more selectable menu options in the searchUI based at least on the drag gesture being performed with the touchpen.
 15. A computer-readable storage medium having program code recordedthereon that, based at least on execution of the program code by acomputing device, perform a method, the method comprising: receiving acommunication from a touch pen that indicates an activation control ofthe touch pen has been physically activated; selecting a touch pen menufrom among a plurality of menus based at least on the communicationindicating that the activation control of the touch pen has beenphysically activated, the touch pen menu including one or moreselectable menu options corresponding to a respective launching of oneor more separate pen applications; determining menu presentationinformation based at least on a state of a user interface (UI) at a timeassociated with the communication, the menu presentation informationspecifying at least a location within the UI; displaying, via the UI,the touch pen menu according to the menu presentation information, thetouch pen menu comprising an interactive handle; detecting a drag of theinteractive handle across the UI; and displaying, via the UI, anexpansion of the touch pen menu as a drawer, the drawer including: theone or more selectable menu options in a top row of the drawer, and oneor more selectable drawer options below the top row, the one or moreselectable menu options in the top row of the drawer corresponding to: afirst set of options based at least on a first profile of a user, thefirst profile being selectable by a first profile UI option displayed inthe drawer, or a second set of options based at least on a secondprofile of the user, the second profile bbeing selectable by a secondprofile UI option displayed in the drawer.
 16. The computer-readablestorage medium of claim 15, wherein the activation control of the touchpen comprises a tail activator; and wherein the method further comprisesdetermining the location within the UI based at least on a handednesssetting of the state of the UI.
 17. The computer-readable storage mediumof claim 15, wherein the computing device comprises a first physicaldisplay and a second physical display configured to respectively displaya first portion of the UI and a second portion of the UI; and whereinthe method further comprises determining the location within the UI asbeing within the first portion of the UI based at least on at least oneof: the first portion of the UI corresponding to a handedness setting ofthe state of the UI; or the state of the UI indicating the first portionof the UI displays a home screen and the second portion of the UIdisplays an executing application that is in focus.
 18. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the methodcomprises: receiving, based at least on an interaction of the touch penwith the touch pen menu, a selection indication of a selectable menuoption of the one or more selectable menu options that designates a penapplication of the one or more separate pen applications; and launchingthe pen application in the first portion of the UI on the first physicaldisplay based at least on the location within the UI. 19-20. (canceled)21. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more selectable menuoptions comprise a customization option; and wherein the processingsystem is configured, in response to the at least receiving the programcode, to: receive, based at least on an interaction of the touch penwith the customization option, a menu customization indication; anddisplay a first sub-menu in the UI responsive to the menu customizationindication, the first sub-menu comprising selectable customizationoptions that include at least one of: reordering of the one or moreselectable menu options; adding a selectable menu option to the one ormore selectable menu options; or removing one of the one or moreselectable menu options.
 22. The computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 15, wherein the one or more selectable menu options comprise acustomization option; and wherein the method further comprises:receiving, based at least on an interaction of the touch pen with thecustomization option, a menu customization indication; and displaying afirst sub-menu in the UI responsive to the menu customizationindication, the first sub-menu comprising selectable customizationoptions that include at least one of: reordering of the one or moreselectable menu options; adding a selectable menu option to the one ormore selectable menu options; or removing one of the one or moreselectable menu options.
 23. The computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 15, wherein the method further comprises: prior to saiddisplaying, determining at least one of the one or more selectable menuoptions based at least on one or more of: a pre-determined set of penapplications that are executable by the computing device; or a usagemetric associated with one or more pen applications that have beenexecuted by the computing device; and associating the one or moreselectable menu options with the touch pen menu.
 24. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the method furthercomprises: detecting a drag gesture of the touch pen across the UI thatis indicative of executing a search application; executing the searchapplication responsive to said detecting; and displaying via the UI: asearch UI of the executed search application, and the one or moreselectable menu options in the search UI based at least on the draggesture being performed with the touch pen.